Droughts are a part of life in California that seem to come back every decade or so.

Remember not flushing the toilet? Putting a bucket in the shower? It's time to dust off those tips, as California finds itself in a brutally dry spell.

On Friday, following the lowest rainfall year in the state's 153-year history, and with the Sierra snow pack at 17 percent of normal, Gov. Jerry Brown called a drought emergency and asked California residents to cut their water use by 20 percent.

That's not so difficult, experts say. Fixing leaks in household faucets and toilets, and reducing lawn irrigation can get most families to the goal.

"It's pretty easy to save 20 percent. You want to remember that your plants — even with it being dry outside — are not needing as much water this time of year because it is cooler than in the summer," said Chris Brown, former executive director of the California Urban Water Conservation Council, a nonprofit group in Sacramento. "The easiest way to save water is to save it outdoors."

In California, more than 50 percent of residential water use occurs outdoors. A typical lawn consumes about 57 inches of rain a year, according to the Association of California Water Agencies.

In an average year, the Sacramento Valley floor sees about half that much rain, while foothills get between 50 and 60 inches. But it all falls in winter when it isn't needed.

Sprinklers make up the difference. A small lawn of 1,000 square-feet takes about 35,000 gallons of water per year, according to the association. Many homeowners overwater, particularly in the winter, and end up using twice that amount.

"If you aren't really going to use a lawn, there are a lot of options, like native grasses and wildflowers, succulents and other plants," said Ruthie Gordon, co-owner of Mazingira Gardening Services, a Berkeley landscaping company that specializes in replacing grass lawns, installing drip irrigation and other water-saving strategies.

"Some people think they must have a lawn. It's a cultural thing," she said. "But you really only need a lawn if you have kids or animals playing on it, or if you throw a lot of parties. If it's just for aesthetics, there are a lot of options that look great."

The average home in California uses 192 gallons of water a day, according to a 2008 study by the state Department of Water Resources and the Urban Water Conservation Council.

Among other tips that experts recommend:

Taking a five-minute shower instead of a 10-minute shower saves 12.5 gallons with a low-flow shower head, and 25 gallons with a standard five gallon-per-minute shower head.

Turning the faucet off while brushing teeth or shaving saves about 10 gallons a day.

Using a broom to clean driveways, sidewalks and patios instead of a hose saves 8-18 gallons a minute.

Fixing the worn washers in a faucet with a slow steady drip saves 350 gallons per month, and 2,000 gallons a month if the leak is a small stream. Putting a new flapper in a leaking toilet can save 7,000 gallons a month. To test for leaks put food coloring in the tank. Don't flush. Ten minutes later if you see color in the bowl, you have a leak.

Installing a water-efficient clothes washer saves up to 16 gallons a load. A water-efficient dishwasher saves up to eight gallons a load.

Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while scraping them clean.

Replacing a pre-1990 toilet, which can use 5 gallons per flush, with a newer high-efficiency model can save 38 gallons a day per toilet.